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Adherence to CDC/ACSM physical activity guidelines in a community sample of people with Mulitple Sclerosis.

Title

Adherence to CDC/ACSM physical activity guidelines in a community sample of people with Mulitple Sclerosis.

Publication Type

Journal Article

2006

Authors

Wadhwani R, Cline MJ, LaRotonda CJ, Bowen JD, Ehde DM, Kraft GH

Journal

International Journal of MS Care

Volume

8

Issue

2

Pagination

42-43

Background: Physical inactivity has increasingly been reported as a risk factor associated with an array of morbidities. Despite this evidence, nearly 70% of adults in the United States remain sedentary according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) standards for physical activity. This study sought to determine the proportion of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who meet the CDC/ACSM guidelines for physical activity and examine variables that may be related to meeting these guidelines. Methods: Subjects were 236 people with MS living in the Seattle, Washington, area. A research assistant asked subjects over the telephone for the frequency, duration, and type of exercise performed in the past month and basic demographic and medical history data. Respondents were classified as adherent to CDC/ACSM guidelines if they engaged in moderate-intensity physical activity at least 5 days per week for 30 minutes or vigorous activity at least 3 days per week for 20 minutes. Results: Eighty-seven percent of the sample did not meet CDC/ACSM guidelines for exercise, and 29% had not exercised at all in the preceding month. ?2-Analysis did not reveal any significant relationships between meeting the exercise guidelines and sex, type of MS, being ambulatory, extreme heat sensitivity, or balance problems. Body mass index values were significantly lower for those who met the exercise guidelines (mean 26.7 [SD 5.9]) than for those who did not (24.3 [SD 2.9]) (Student’s t test, P = .038). Conclusions: These findings highlight the clinical importance of encouraging increased participation in physical activity for people with MS and developing exercise interventions that are feasible for people in this population.

The MSRRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research under cooperative agreement H133B080025, from 2008-2013. The information developed by the MSRRTC does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government (Edgar, 75.620 (b)).